Water-colour drawing by William Robert Houghton, of the ghats and temples, probably at Nasik, dated c.1878.

Nasik is one of the holy cities of Hinduism as it is believed to be one of the places where Rama spent his exile with Sita and Lakshmana. The town lies on both sides of the Godavari river, which is considered to be sacred and has many temples, shrines and bathing ghats. Every twelve years pilgrims come from all over India in occasion of the Kumbha Mela to purify themselves by bathing in the holy waters. Most of the temples at the site date from the 18th century Maratha period; some show the influence of Muslim architecture in the use of dome-like roofs while others have traditional curved spires.